Creme's methodology for selecting conference winners creates anomalies, particularly at this time of year. He has Cleveland St (instead of Green Bay), Western Illinois (San Diego St), Buffalo (Ball St) and Creighton (DePaul) as conference winners, which somewhat affects the number of at large berths available. With that caveat, I believe his selection of at-large teams is correct.

Baylor gets a #1 seed without a top 25 RPI win. Rutgers (4 seed),California (5) and Marquette (6) also do not have a top 25 win. Houston is the second team out despite not having a top 100 win.

South Dakota is given the automatic bid from the Summit League, allowing South Dakota St to steal an at large berth. If SDSU actually wins the Summit that would put Buffalo in the field for this projection.

At least the committee was consistent compared to last year and put Baylor at #9.

I agree with the Committee 100%, but I don't agree with Lobo et al.'s commentary. If Baylor sweeps through the Big 12 there will be enough good wins to make up for their weak non-conference schedule. Three wins over Texas will prove they deserve a #1 seed. It is just that right now they have none.

By what metric is Oregon ahead of ND? ND with better schedule and more top wins.

Maybe they finalized it when the ND TN game was in the first quarter :)

The issue with Notre Dame is how they will play with their injuries. After the Louisville game it was hard to make them a 1 seed. If they win out, which would include wins at Duke and Florida St, they will be rated over Oregon, even if the Ducks run the table also.

_________________Make lots of noise
Kiss lots of boys
Or kiss lots of girls
If that's something you're into
When the straight and narrow
Gets a little too straight
Roll up a joint, or don't
Just follow your arrow
Wherever it points, yeah
Follow your arrow
Wherever it points

Can conference teams now match up as early as Sweet 16? Or is it Elite 8? Georgetown and UConn were on the same seed line as a #5 and #1 so they met up in Sweet 16.

Asking because if you’d put Mississippi State in Kansas City, it would make sense to have Missouri there as well - just not sure they can go in as a #4 with an SEC rival as a #1.

Conference teams can not meet before the Sweet 16. Generally teams from the same conference do not meet until the elite 8, but this rule has been violated, and when you get multiple conferences with seven or eight teams it is more likely to happen.

These seeds agreed with mine in all respects except that I had Missouri as a 3 instead of UCLA and I had Oklahoma St a 4 instead of Rutgers.

Anybody guess why I like this top 16?

Probably for a reason similar to why I like Creme's bracket

_________________Make lots of noise
Kiss lots of boys
Or kiss lots of girls
If that's something you're into
When the straight and narrow
Gets a little too straight
Roll up a joint, or don't
Just follow your arrow
Wherever it points, yeah
Follow your arrow
Wherever it points

Can conference teams now match up as early as Sweet 16? Or is it Elite 8? Georgetown and UConn were on the same seed line as a #5 and #1 so they met up in Sweet 16.

Asking because if you’d put Mississippi State in Kansas City, it would make sense to have Missouri there as well - just not sure they can go in as a #4 with an SEC rival as a #1.

Conference teams can not meet before the Sweet 16. Generally teams from the same conference do not meet until the elite 8, but this rule has been violated, and when you get multiple conferences with seven or eight teams it is more likely to happen.

Thanks for that - I was sure, but not certain. I do this every year and get my hopes up for dream match ups that maximize attendance and buzz, but Missouri vs. Mississippi State in KC could be a good match up!

At least the committee was consistent compared to last year and put Baylor at #9.

I agree with the Committee 100%, but I don't agree with Lobo et al.'s commentary. If Baylor sweeps through the Big 12 there will be enough good wins to make up for their weak non-conference schedule. Three wins over Texas will prove they deserve a #1 seed. It is just that right now they have none.

Didn't MD beat OhSt 3 times last year? Didn't move them up. And if Baylor beats Texas 3 times, Texas will have 6 losses, at least, so they that's going to become less meaningful with each loss.